Compass - The Golden

Before Lyra is taken into the care of the glamorous but cold , the Master of Jordan College gives her an alethiometer —a golden, truth-telling compass that only she can learn to read. After discovering that Mrs. Coulter leads the Gobblers, Lyra escapes and joins forces with the Gyptians , a group of water-travelers whose children have also been stolen.

: A Texan aeronaut who provides transport in his hot-air balloon. The Golden Compass

Lyra travels further to find Lord Asriel, believing he needs the alethiometer to defeat the oppressive Magisterium (the Church). However, she learns too late that Asriel actually needs the energy released from severing a child's dæmon to rip open a bridge to another world. Asriel sacrifices Roger to create this portal. Before Lyra is taken into the care of

: A witch queen whose clan aids Lyra in battle. The Dark Secret : A Texan aeronaut who provides transport in

The story of The Golden Compass (also known as Northern Lights ) follows , a spirited and deceptive young girl living in a parallel Oxford where human souls exist outside the body as animal companions called dæmons . The Call to Adventure

Lyra reaches the research station at , where she discovers the horrific truth: the Gobblers are performing "intercision," a process that surgically severs children from their dæmons to prevent them from being "tainted" by Dust. Lyra leads a daring escape, freeing Roger and the other children. The Climax and Betrayal